Home-made car cover

ronwest · 09-03-2006, 05:19 PM

Of a night, my recently purchased AU3 shares a largish shed with our cat.

Seems the cat really likes our new car and spends most of the night wandering around on the bonnet, roof and bootlid = cat's hair and pawprints
:(

Animals inside the house are not an option. Apparently drowning the cat is also not an option so unless someone in here has an alternative, a car cover may be the way to go.

One problem with that is that the car has a mobile aerial and I don't know that I'm all that inclined to be fiddling around with that at each car cover on/off. The idea of constantly fitting/unfitting a car cover does not fill me with joy, either.

Sooooo, what I'm considering is making a lightweight rectangular frame attached via 2 pulleys to garage roof bearers and draping a home made "car cover" over that. The frame would be a little longer and a little wider than the car so when lowered it should cover the car with minimum of fuss.

The "car cover" material is what I'm really interested in. My first inclination is to go with lightweight nylon. I'm sure that my wife could fabricate a nylon cover on our sewing machine.

Anybody done something similar?

Anybody got a better idea? (the cat has to stay, lol)

Anybody know where to buy lightweight nylon fabric?

fiery · 09-03-2006, 05:26 PM

Sounds good what you have suggested doing.....
you could probably pick up what you want from somewhere like Spotlight or similar....

An alternative might be a really cheap King Size Sheet, you could cut a hole in it for the aerial!!!!!!! just a thought...

let us know how you solve the issue....

rayner22 · 09-03-2006, 05:59 PM

All I'll say is an aspro in milk, sure to fix the problem everytime... LOL JUST KIDDING!!!!

tickford2001 · 09-03-2006, 06:09 PM

hmmm not totally convinced your idea will work, but has potential with some fine tuning!

if youre after lightweight nylon material you could try a sail maker, they have tonnes of different types

MarkIV · 09-03-2006, 06:09 PM

Whatever you do will have to fit snugly otherwise the cat will thank you for an even warmer place to sleep between the car and its cover!

I bought a Kenco cover for my Lincoln - it has a patch with it that you can use to reinforce holes for aerials etc. It only takes a few seconds to get on and off - except when it is windy!

MarkIV

DOC · 09-03-2006, 06:10 PM

You could get away with a lot less material, place a zip in the end of a pillow case.

= cat cover

ronwest · 09-03-2006, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiery

you could probably pick up what you want from somewhere like Spotlight or similar....

An alternative might be a really cheap King Size Sheet, you could cut a hole in it for the aerial!!!!!!! just a thought...

thanks, just rang our closest Spotlight...they are closing (for good) tomorrow!

Next nearest is a decent drive....

I thought of sheets, blankets etc but I'm not sure that cat wouldn't dislodge them whilst line dancing (or whatever it does of a night).

I think I'll pursue the frame idea, I've almost got it figured out in my head.

If it looks like a goer I'll post some pics of the process.

ronwest · 09-03-2006, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkIV

Whatever you do will have to fit snugly otherwise the cat will thank you for an even warmer place to sleep between the car and its cover!

Yes, thought of that. Not sure what to do about it, yet.

Maybe electrify a wire around the bottom edge...j/k

opto · 09-03-2006, 07:48 PM

I recon the cat will get on the cover and paw and claw the cover possibly scratching the paint finish.

My recommendation is put some full lemons on the car and take them off in the morning maybe even roll them so the citrus oil oozes out.

PS My cat dances on my car and sleeps on the roof too !

Shonky · 09-03-2006, 10:48 PM

the ultimate Cat proof car cover.

Materials required:
- Lots of chicken wire
- 240V mains supply

wasa · 09-03-2006, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opto

I recon the cat will get on the cover and paw and claw the cover possibly scratching the paint finish.

My recommendation is put some full lemons on the car and take them off in the morning maybe even roll them so the citrus oil oozes out.

PS My cat dances on my car and sleeps on the roof too !

this one like the vent from the tubo

Stevo · 10-03-2006, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DOC

You could get away with a lot less material, place a zip in the end of a pillow case.

= cat cover

baahahahahah classic

vanessa0305 · 10-03-2006, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opto

I recon the cat will get on the cover and paw and claw the cover possibly scratching the paint finish.

My recommendation is put some full lemons on the car and take them off in the morning maybe even roll them so the citrus oil oozes out.

PS My cat dances on my car and sleeps on the roof too !

This is true cause when cat jumps up to sleep on car it wont get its footing on the slippery cover on car. Puts in claws and tada scratched car...if I was you i wouldn't bother, better off a little hair and a few paw prints then scratches!

tickford2001 · 10-03-2006, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanessa0305

This is true cause when cat jumps up to sleep on car it wont get its footing on the slippery cover on car. Puts in claws and tada scratched car...if I was you i wouldn't bother, better off a little hair and a few paw prints then scratches!

i dont think he is talking about a car cover that actually sits on the car though

EA2BA · 10-03-2006, 09:10 AM

Cats will get on, in, and around alot of things. What you really need is a hoist then the car will be to high for the cat, and allow you to service the car at home.

If you convice the Mrs we all would like to know the secret as to how

fiery · 10-03-2006, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronwest

thanks, just rang our closest Spotlight...they are closing (for good) tomorrow!
Next nearest is a decent drive....

Not sure but cant you buy stuff from them online and then they will post it..
Thats always a thought to check out though ..

Good luck (I'm really curious to see how this goes now)

Cheers
Kerri

Pedro · 10-03-2006, 11:38 AM

Look at your problem from the other angle ... why not cage the cat at night?

ronwest · 10-03-2006, 12:40 PM

appreciate the input guys....

just to make the concept a little clearer, imagine a box that is lowered and then suspended over the car. The top and sides of the box are lightweight nylon.

opto: because the frame/cover will be unstable (nylon, suspended by ropes) I'm hoping that the cat will choose an easier place to sleep/dance

vanessa0305: as above. If I make it as above the cat won't be able to jump on to the car

tickford2001: correct

EA2BA: I'm sure you're right about cats' ability to get where they want to. All the more of a challenge ;) I'm not sure that a hoist is on the cards, but a pit maybe an option, down the track...

fiery: rang Spotlight Morayfield this morning. They tell me that even though Kedron is closing, a new Spotlight opens at Everton Park on Monday (that is closer than Kedron to me... duh! the girl could have told me that when I rang Kedron yesterday)

pedro: that was my original thought. I figured I'd just isolate a corner of the shed or even get a garden shed for the moggy. A couple of things steered me to a car cover. We live on a large block and from time to time our neighbours have mice running around the place. We also get the occasional snake. I've got stuff in the shed that I don't want mice/vermin into, let alone the unpleasurable experience of arguing the territory with a snake, lol.

Keep the ideas flowing....

gozza · 10-03-2006, 12:53 PM

let it sleep inside?
trim its claws?
give it little kitty boots
chop its legs off?
make a moat with a draw bridge around your car

OZFORDAU · 10-03-2006, 12:54 PM

Park the car outside?

BlueRaven · 10-03-2006, 01:09 PM

I'm fairly impressed that you want to go to this much effort for your kitty cat.

Water is your friend here. Considering your willing to spend the time to make a home made cover, you should also consider spending the time to make a home made deterent. You need a way to rig up a bucket of water or spray gun or something. Maybe with a trip wire. If you can get the cat wet on the car....after a few times or maybe less, it won't go near it.

chief · 10-03-2006, 08:41 PM

You could divide the shed and give the cat a basket with an old woolen jumper. If I was a cat that would be comfortable.

Our cats sleep everywhere on cars (except mine of course), in the Christmas tree. In the sink, on the stairs. The frustrating part is the cat hair.

bluovl · 10-03-2006, 09:20 PM

I had this same problem years ago when the neighbours cat was able to squeeze in to the old shed I had.
I bought little citrus scented waxy looking things aboubt an inch an a half long.
Put about 3 or 4 around the place and never had trouble with cats again.

Dale

BlueRaven · 11-03-2006, 12:57 AM

I've heard pepper is good too....

347_XR8 · 11-03-2006, 01:04 AM

There is a cheap solution to this. Either a) get rid of the cat (via uncruel ways) or b) don't let cat in garage.
Problem solved. If ya give the cat to the right person then ya will even get some money $$$$$$

ronwest · 11-03-2006, 01:35 AM

some intereesting thoughts in the latest batch...

gozza: so close....yet somehow so far

OZFORDAU: It *is* outside. The big news is that over recent years we've replaced our exotic trees/shrubs/bushes with natives, thinking that it would would be nice to sit in the shade and watch the birds feeding and chirping merrily.
Bzzzztttt! Wrong!! Birds eating = bird's droppings = my wife relaxing and watching the birdies whilst I sit on the edge of the chair ready to leap up and get the hose onto the car(s). Maybe I should just take the bell off the cat's collar and enjoy the spectacle?

Blue Raven: The effort is actually for the car. The only trip wire I'm likely to rig up will be connected to a grenade

chief: will a jumper and a basket ensure that the cat is warm whilst picking mushrooms? j/k But yes you are right, it is the hair that's a bother. Maybe I could shave the little runt?

bluovl: thats a couple of times citrus/lemon has been mentioned. I may have to investigate that a little more...

BlueRaven: maybe a tripwire to a pepper bomb?

Lukey_XF: Cost is not necessarily an issue. For the reasons stated previously I don't mind the cat in the shed, I just mind it on the car. If push comes to shove I'll buy a garden shed for the cat and force it into the big shed at gunpoint, from time to time

edit: sp